Passages

In 1996, Richard Bader, Russell Bell, Ed Hileman, David Santry and John Warkentin retired from the chemistry department. David Humphreys retired in 1994.

Senior Technician Dennis Moore and Faj Ramelan of the mass spectrometry facility retired in 1996. Dennis Moore had replaced Stewart Dinning who earlier retired from the position of Senior Technician. The position is now held by Karen Neumann. Klaus Schoenfeld of electronics and Ian Thompson of the NMR facility also retired.

Professor Emeritus Alfio Corsini died on December 4, 1997 after a battle with cancer. He was 64.

Alfio Corsini joined the chemistry department in the early 1960's as assistant professor of analytical chemistry. His research in chemical analysis, and metal separation and recovery led to the development of environmentally sound means of removing radioactive waste from uranium mines in Northern Ontario.

Professor Corsini served the university as Assistant, and subsequently Associate, Dean of Science Studies from 1977 to 1981.

A lover of sports and practical jokes, Alf, will be remembered by all for his kind nature and cheery disposition.

At the age of 62, Colin Lock died suddenly on May 1, 1996 while visiting the Chalk River Laboratories. A memorial service was held at Centenary United Church in Hamilton.

He came to McMaster from England in 1963 to take the position of assistant professor of inorganic chemistry. His research focused on inorganic drugs with an emphasis on structure determination using X-ray crystallography. He worked on a number of clinically useful compounds including drugs to treat cancer (cisplatin), arthritis (myocrisin), and various technetium radiopharmaceuticals.

He was an exuberant teacher and a well respected, and sadly missed, mentor.

Colin Lock was a talented singer - a family tradition carried on by his daughter Pippa. He was fond of telling stories, and always enjoyed a celebration. His passion for life will long be celebrated by all who knew him.

Professor Emeritus Harry Thode died on March 22, 1997. A memorial service was held at Convocation Hall on April 15.

As president of the university from 1961-1972 Harry Thode created the modern McMaster. He was the leading figure in the building of the McMaster University Medical Centre, and the creation of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Engineering. He actively pursued nuclear chemistry and geochemistry research, and is responsible for the installation of the McMaster Nuclear Reactor. McMaster's innovative contributions to nuclear medicine, including positron emission tomography, were originally promoted and encouraged by Harry Thode.

Harry Thode was the first scientist, and among the first ten, to be named Companion of the Order of Canada, in 1967. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London, in 1954. In 1989, he was named Companion of the Order of Ontario. Fifty years of his holding an NSERC grant were celebrated at McMaster in 1991. The H.G. Thode Library of Science and Engineering was built in his honor in 1978.

Aside from his many accomplishments, awards, and his great vision, Harry Thode will be remembered by many for his down-to-earth nature and his willingness to share his vast experience and understanding.

John Yarwood died on December 25, 1997, after a sudden heart attack at the family cottage in Wiarton. A memorial service was held at the Divinity College Chapel. He was 59.

He came to McMaster in 1965 as assistant professor of physical chemistry. His love of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics was always clearly expressed in his careful teaching.

Professor Yarwood was Assistant, and subsequently Associate, Dean of Science Studies from 1981 to 1993. In these roles, as well as that of chemistry instructor, he is well known for his fairness, and his eagerness to help students.

John Yarwood loved music, books and nature. His quiet and kind demeanor is dearly missed by the many he touched deeply.